Hat-pin protector.



N. C. JENSEN. HAT PIN PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. 1917.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

INVENTOR WITNESSES W. I I

NIELS JENSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAT-PIN PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 14 1917.

Application filed April 10, 191-7. Serial No. 161,095.

1 '0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, NIELS C. JENSEN, a citizen of Denmark, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hat-Pin Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends the provision of a safety device for hat pins, and by means of which the point of the pin is covered to prevent injury to pedestrians in congested places, and further serving to prevent casual separation of the pin from the hat.

More specifically stated, the invention contemplates an outer and inner member, the latter being yieldably mounted for sliding v movement, and designed to receive and grip the pointed extremity of the pin, when said member is in its normal position.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be readily understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the

invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein r 1 V Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the protector operatively positioned upon the pin.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the sliding member for releasing the 1n. p Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the sliding member.

The protector forming the subject matter of my invention essentially consists of an outer member indicated at 10, and an inner member of the design illustrated in Fig. 4. The outer member may be of any suitable design, and constructed from any suitable material, but as shown in this instance preferably embodies an enlarged spherical body portion and a reduced tail portion 11. The body portion 10 is provided with a restricted entrance opening 12 for the pointed extremity of the pin 13, the opening 12 communicating with a conical shaped bore 14 which is disposed with its larger end adjacent the forward extremity of the body portion. The bore 14 is disposed in axial alinement with a bore 15 in the tail portion 11. The outer member is preferably made up of two half sections which are secured together in any suitable manner.

The inner member illustrated in Fig. 4 is preferably of tubular formation in cross section, and split longitudinally from one end to provide relatively movable sections 16. The inner member is slidably fitted within the outer member as shown, and is preferably formed with an enlarged tapered ex tremity 16 to coact with the tapered walls of the bore 14 in the manner to be hereinafter described. The portion of the inner member of uniform diameter is received within the bore 15 of the tail portion 11, while the tapered extremity of said inner member opcrates within the conical bore 14. A coil spring encircles the inner member and has one end bearing against a stop 18 formed thereon, while the opposite end of the spring bears against an internal shoulder 19 formed on the outer member at the point of juncture with the enlarged spherical portion with the tail portion 11. The spring functions to normally maintain the inner member projected an appreciable distance beyond the tail portion 11 of the outer member, and in which position the tapered portion 17 contacts the walls of the'bore 14, with a result of holding the relatively movable members 16 in gripping relation. tapered portion 17 of the inner member defines a shoulder 20 which normally engages the internal shoulder 19 of the outer member, and by reason of this construction the inner member is limited in adjustment in one direction under the influence of the spring 21. Carried by the relatively movable members 16 is a plurality of inwardly projecting pins 22 disposed in staggered relation. and each of which pins is formed with a wedgeshaped The enlarged extremity, the pins being provided to en- 'moved forwardly within the outer member against the tension of the spring 21, and subsequently the pointed extremity of the pin is passed through the opening 12 in the outer member through the bore 14 and between the relatively movable members 16 of the inner member. The pins 22 are dis posed in the path of movement of the pin, and consequently are engaged by the latter. As the pin 13 is moved farther within the protector, the relatively movable members 16 are spread or separated to permit the pin to be properly inserted, until the notch 23 is brought into aline with the free ex tremities of the pins 22, the members 16 through their inherent resilient qualities automatically come together, and during which time the pins 22 position themselves within the notch 23. Pressure is then re moved from the sliding member, and the spring 21 functions to retract the member to its normal position, whereupon the en larged tapered portions 17 cooperating with the tapered walls of the bore 141, forces the relatively movable members 16 effectively into gripping relation. As above stated the shoulder 20 coming in contact with the internal shoulder 19 of the outer member limits a return movement of the inner sliding member to normal position. The protector in its entirety is extremely simple in construction, and is capable of being easily manipulated for the purpose intended. The protector can be made of any ornamental design to add to the appearance and attractiveness of the hat.

While I have shown and described what I consider the preferred embodiment of the invention, I desire to have it understood that what is herein shown and described is not considered restrictive, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is 1. In a hat pin protector, an outer member having a tapered bore and a straight bore, an internal shoulder formed at the point of juncture between said bores, an

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inner member having a straight portion movable within the straight bore, and a tape'red portion movable within the tapered bore, a spring encircling said inner member, a stop on the latter, said spring being interposed between said shoulder and stop for normally holding said member projected, said shoulder further forming a stop to limit the movement of said member under the influence of said spring, said inner member including relatively movable gripping sections, pins projecting inwardly from said sections, and said tapered portion of the inner member cooperating with the walls of said tapered bore, whereby said sections are normally held in gripping relation.

2. A hat pin protector comprising an outer member having a relatively large tapered bore, and a reduced straight bore disposed in axial alinement with the tapered bore, an inner tubular member slidably fitted within the outer member, and split longitudinally for a portion of its length to provide relatively movable gripping sections, a flange formed on said inner member at point beyond said section, said sections being tapered to coact with the wall of said tapered bore, whereby said sections are moved into gripping relation upon movement of the inner member in one direction, a coil spring encirclin said inner member and arranged within said straight bore, said spring having one end bearing against the outer member and its opposite end bearing against said flange of the inner member, whereby the latter is normally held in a po sition wherein the movable sections are maintained in gripping relation, and pins projecting inwardly from said movable sections as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

NIELS C. JENSEN.

Washington, D. G. 

